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(43)

I append details of three consignments which are of special
interest—
Argentine Mutton.—Towards the end of 1947 a consignment
consisting of approximately 24,000 carcases of Argentine Sheep and
Lambs arrived and were put into cold store.
It was observed that in nearly every carcase lymphatic glands
had been deliberately removed, and in the case of a portion of the
consignment the Mutton was described in the papers as " Caseous
Meat."
Inquiries were made and it was learned that this meat was intended
for human consumption. Under the Public Health (Imported Food)
Regulations, 1937, any meat from which a lymphatic gland has been
removed (except a gland necessarily removed in the preparation of
the meat) is prohibited meat which shall not be imported for human
consumption.
The whole consignment was detained and I gave instructions
that it was not to be allowed to go for human consumption nor allowed
to be transferred to another borough without permission. The matter
was reported to the Public Health Committee, and I finally received
a note from the Ministry of Food to say that the Ministers of Food
and Health had amended the Public Health (Imported Food) Regulations
so as to permit the importation of mutton and lamb from
which a lymphatic gland had been removed and had drawn up a
revised code to guide food inspectors in dealing with carcases which
showed evidence of having been infected with caseous lymphadenitis.
The amending regulations had been published and copies of them
and of the memorandum containing the revised criteria of inspection
were being sent to all Port Health Authorities and Port Medical Officers.
I therefore gave the necessary instructions for the release of the
meat.